REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) 

(Consulting Firm)

Assignment Title: INTEGRATED BIO-BEHAVIOURAL SURVEILLANCE SURVEY (IBBSS) AND POPULATION SIZE ESTIMATION OF KEY POPULATIONS AND DISABLED PERSONS IN SIERRA LEONE

Reference No. : NAS/GF/CON/04/19

The Government of Sierra Leone received funding from Global Fund to fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). National HIV/AIDS Secretariat is the Principal Recipient (PR) of the HIV/AIDS grant for the implementation of the “Program Continuation Request (PCR)” which commenced in January 2018 and ends 31st December 2020. Sierra Leone has a stabilised HIV prevalence of 1.5% among its general population; however based on the 2010 Modes of Transmission (MoT) report, there are certain populations that are at higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. These populations are known as “key populations” (KP), and in Sierra Leone, these are Female Sex Workers (FSW), Men who have sex with men (MSM), People who inject drugs (PWID) and prisoners. Several studies have been conducted in past years regarding behaviours and practices of Key populations, followed by a sero-prevalence study in 2015.

However an Integrated Bio-Behavioural Surveillance Survey has not been conducted for any of these groups. Thus Secretariat requires the services of an interdisciplinary consulting firm to conduct Integrated Bio-Behavioural Surveillance Survey. This study is designed to assist the country in focusing prevention better to those who need the services, and by doing so, progress toward universal access to prevention with the limited available resources.
The consulting services shall include but limited to the following activities:

i. Conduct a comprehensive mapping of Key Populations in all the sixteen district capitals, mining towns, and market/commercial towns across the country capturing hotspots and hideouts where HIV risk activities predominantly take place

ii. Generate revised estimates of the size of MSMs, FSWs, PWIDs, Prison inmates and new estimates of Disabled including their distribution in each mapping site, by different categories in the specified locations.

iii. Generate data and information to help understand the mobility patterns of the key populations within and outside the site and the extent of networking among each of the specific key population under investigation

iv. Describe the sexual network patterns of the key populations and disabled in all the locations

v. Measure the HIV prevalence among Key Populations. (FSW, MSM, PWID, Prison Inmates) and disabled and other emerging sub populations with higher risk levels.

vi. Identify and track the key behavioural risk factors and how these are linked to HIV and STIs transmission among Key populations and disabled

vii. Catalogue HIV testing and health seeking behaviours by Key Population and disabled

viii. Determine the level of HIV-related knowledge

ix. Identify contextual factors that influence risk and vulnerability to HIV and STIs among Key populations and disabled

x. Evaluate the coverage, reach, and intensity of HIV/STIs prevention and treatment services for Key populations and disabled

xi. Provide recommendations to address gaps in access to critical prevention, treatment, care and support services for Key populations

The implementation period of the consultancy is expected to be around Six months

The National HIV/AIDS Secretariat now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

A. A research institution with at least five years’ experience in this type of assignment (30%)
B. Availability of inter-disciplinary team of seasoned researchers comprising of Epidemiologists, Biostatisticians, Sociologist, Anthropologists, Public Health Specialists, Biomedical Specialist and Health Economist (40%)
C. Reference information of at least two similar assignments executed in the last ten years (30%)

Please note: Firms that exceeded the 80% threshold will be shortlisted
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection Method set forth in the Government of Sierra Leone Public Procurement Acts. Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications. Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest which should comprise of the firm’s profile, CVs of the required key staff,
references information on similar assignments executed etc. must be delivered by email to:
arcsessay@yahoo.com , kawenikargbo7@gmail.com or in person to the following to the address below on or before 1700 hours, 21st August 2019.

The Director General
National HIV/AIDS Secretariat
15 Bellaire Park, Off Pademba Road
DWARZARK
Freetown
Phone: 076 416427
Email: arcsessay@yahoo.com or kawenikargbo7@gmail.com

ISSUES DATE: 7th August 2019